Equality for all
In light of recent events, I’d like to touch on how we, as humans, have a moral responsibility to do the right thing. Senseless violence takes place nearly every day in this world. But it’s our job to cultivate change.
Senselessness
There will never be a right or wrong reason to take another person’s life. It’s not our right. We’re born into this planet, given the opportunity to live life, and never meant to take it away. Some individuals attempt to justify their actions against others by logical reasoning that involves no logic whatsoever. Because, regardless of the circumstances, there is no logic in taking someone’s life. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never will be, okay.
Passing away is God’s doing. Whether you believe in God or not, any decent human can put two and two together to realize that killing someone is never justifiable. More relevant are the recent slayings of two African-American men. As I am sure you’ve heard, one man, Ahmaud Arbery, was jogging and ended up shot and killed. The other, George Floyd, was arrested, lying on the ground, while a police officer put his knee on his neck until the point where he couldn’t breathe and had his life taken. The absolute disgust I feel when thinking about how these men were targeted simply for the color of their skin is tantamount to the vilest thing possible.
Racial injustice
There’s no arguing that racial injustices against minorities, specifically African-American’s, exist in today’s age. Modern-day racism shows itself in the form of nearly inherent bias’ of races. No matter what race of people you talk to, each one has a stereotype of the other. The stereotyping puts segments of people into a box. You cannot categorize an entire group of people. I’ll say that again:
“You cannot categorize an entire group of people.”
For years, racial injustices have littered the United States. By attempting to fit everyone into a box, you do no one justice. I’ve seen, heard, and experienced racism myself. I’ve seen my best friend profiled because he’s African-American. I’ve walked into the same mall with and without him and noticed the different looks I received. Anyone who denies that racism exists in today’s age needs to take a long hard look in the mirror because they’re part of the problem. Anyone who says racism ended with the civil rights era is ignorant. It’s all relevant.
Just because you get a job promotion, does that mean you stop trying to climb the corporate ladder? Of course not, because you want more. In the same way, people of color don’t just want fundamental civil liberties. They want everything we, as caucasian people, receive. They should get it. Everyone should. The fact that I am still making these kinds of statements in 2020 is beyond me and frankly, disheartening.
It takes a village
We, as caucasian people, have a responsibility to listen to our neighbors, brothers, and sisters. Because no one of us will ever know what it’s like to be another race, and after all, we’re all human. Additionally, and just as important, it is our responsibility to call out our peers on any racial slights. Not just us, either. It’s the responsibility for any decent human to stand up for what is right, regardless of skin color.
“The end of racism in this world doesn’t start without a plan fixated on the widespread experiences of people of color being told and valued.”
Moreover, violence is never the answer. Prolific civil rights activists protested peacefully for years and made a bevy of changes. Throughout the history of the United States, there’s been plenty of violence and bloodshed, whether racially charged or not. But does that make it right? Violence is never a solution. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. However, as a group of people, we must acknowledge the disenfranchised.
Change starts by first acknowledging this; then, we need to heed the advice of our brothers and sisters in humanity, educating ourselves on their shared experiences. Secondly, we need to put an end to stereotyping. Just because races have cultural differences doesn’t give anyone the right to make stereotypical assumptions about an entire group of people. When this becomes lessened, that’s when we will begin to see change. Yet, for there to be even more substantial change, we need two things, love, and prayer.
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
Many of the individuals who have taken, or potentially could take, young African-American people’s lives have something in their heart that no one can change but themselves, hate. As a collective, we must pray for these individuals to have a change of heart because God sees no color. Whether or not you believe, you should think about these people and hope for them.
Hope for them to see the light so that love would be instilled in their hearts. But don’t just hope. If you’re close to someone with a racially charged mindset, talk to them. Be the voyage of peace and unity for them. Show them grace, because your conversation with one person matters. It can spread like wildfire, and ultimately, if you want things to be different, you must be the change you wish to see.
